TERRORISM

HAPPY DIWALI

Diwali is said to be a festival of lights. Purana's say we celebrate Diwali , as per the wishes of Narakasura, a ASURA (evil person) who was killed by the Lord Vishnu. Thus Diwali symbolises the death or destruction of every thing evil in this world. This need not necessarily mean the death of evil person, but it also may be the death of evil thoughts, practices and so on.


One of the most prominent evil prevalent in today's society is the TERRORISM. As we are celebrating the festival of lights, its time we think of millions of our brothers and sisters, all over the world, be it in Kashmir, Mumbai, London, New York or Iraq, who have been pushed into darkness because of this evil. As we celebrate Diwali, by bursting crackers, eating mouth- watering sweets and watching special movies in Televisions, let each of us spare a moment to think about those unfortunate victims of this omnipresent evil. I, on my part would like to remember them by recalling a poem I wrote when I was studying in the twelfth. Three and a half years has passed since I wrote that poem, but the effects of terrorism has been in fact more prominent now then three years ago.

TERRORISM

Terrorism: It fills the World with terror
And People mind with horror;
Say the word Terrorist: People will run with fear,
Women and Children will shed tear.
Terrorists may say various reasons
To justify their act in all Seasons,
Either in the name of a Religion,
Or to get freedom for a region,
But the result is the death of Innocent Man,
Who don't know, why they are shot with gun.
Oh! God, We are like petals,
Please save us from the gun made of metals,
Teach these Terrorists about peace,
Otherwise they will tear this world into piece.

Hope at least by next Diwali there won't be too many houses in darkness mourning their beloved ones who have lost their life to this evil TERRORISM

DREAM CAME TRUE

They say the happiness woman experience just after giving birth to a baby child can't be expressed in words and its so special that one has to only undergo it to appreciate it. I think the same can be said about seeing ones story being published for the first time. It gives such a great happiness that cant be put into words. I'm in such happiness today.

My 100 word short story, or rather than calling it as short story, it could be called as a coffee break story, titled "Cricket", has been published in a famous Tamil magazine "Ananda Vigadan", dated 22.10.06, on page no 131.( Its available in shops now) . Although this story is definitely not by best, nevertheless it will occupy a special space in my heart as this is the first time my story has been in print. Its really a honor for me that my writings has came in the same issue that also has the writings of leading writers like Sujatha.

So my dream has came true, I feel I have to spend some time to thank all those who played a major role in it directly or indirectly.

1) MY grand ma Jagadhambal: Most of us grow up listening to the bed time stories of Grand ma and I'm no exception, but then my grand ma was a very good story teller and most of the time she narrated her own stories. When she said those stories she said only the happy moments of her life, that when I'm young i thought her life has always been happy, only to realize later from others she suffered so much in life and she has been careful enough to say only the positive things to my young mind. This positive thinking of her has always inspired me a lot. She can read English news papers and every day she read Tamil news papers and she also helped me read Tamil books early in my life

2)My parents: They are so special, they never forced me to read any books, but whenever I needed any books they always brought and gave me. MY house will resemble a mini library an I always thank them for incorporating this good habit of reading into me. They let me read whatever book I want to read. And without them I would not have been what I am.

3) My sister, D.Jagadeeswari: She always asks me a lot of queries, and just 2 answer her queries I have read so many books. She has a distinct knack of encouraging me and we share such a special bond in spite of our 8 yr difference ( She is studying in 8Th). Iam really thankful to God that He sent me such a good sister.

4) All my uncles, aunts, cousins and nieces ( including my dead uncles) : My relatives have always been a source o strength to me. They have motivated me all along, they have enjoyed my success as though they succeeded and they have helped me over come difficulties, and what not.

5) MY Friends: They are my first audience and they are my first critics too. They constantly encourage me and I would have been lazy to send this story through post, if not for their constant motivation.

6) My teachers: MY teachers right from my primary days till today in my college I have to thank each and every one of them as they played a major role in shaping me.

7) All those famous writers : who inspired me by their writings.

8) All the people who I have came across in some point of life directly or indirectly:
They might not know me but then actually, they also could have been the inspiration for my story .

Finally thank you every one for reading this long post and sharing my happiness.
I strongly believe OUR HAPPINESS WILL DOUBLE ITSELF IF WE SHARE IT WITH OTHERS

DEATH

It was on 24th of july 2001, around 1.15am.

I was in a sort of semi sleep, lying in the bed. I was pondering over what happened few hours ago, at 10pm to be accurate.

At 10pm I had a severe leg pain, the reason for which was the march past I did that morning. I always hated march pasts, but that day I was forced to do it by my physics and Road safety Patrol Sir. ( I was in Eleventh then) Just then My grand mother came to my rescue. She always loved me so much and I spent most of my child hood with her rather than my mother. She massagged my legs and I felt so comfortable that I slept, only to wake up at 1.15am.

I just decided to get some water and got up, only to notice that my Grandma was calling me with a sort of discomfort. She said to me slowly that her chest is paining. I was in for a bit of surprise. The reason being, she never says any of her ailments or pains to me or for that matter to my father. She always bears the pain by herself and does all the works as though every thing is fine. ( Inspite of numerous requests from my father to stop doing kitchen works, she always cooked us delecious dishes, the previous day she had prepared a delecious fish curry) So then, when she requested me to wake up my father, I was baffled.

I, nevertheless, went and woke up my father and explained to him. When my father, along with my mother rushed to the room, she was in a worse situation. She was not able to speak and with great difficulty I controlled my tears. I suspected from my limited biology knowledge that I had, that she was suffering from a massive heart attack. After taking some tablet, she some how was able to speak. The first thing she said was " Please take the children to the other room. They may be afraid." (She was referring to me and my younger sister)

My father had got a taxi to take her to hospital. She was about to get in to the taxi, just then she called my mother and said, "Please every one stop bothering about me. Its nothing. Sugumar (my nick name)has a leg pain. Take care of him. In worrying about me, dont leave his legs unattended." So here is Grandma asking my mother not to worry about her serious heart attack and comparing it to nothing, while requesting her to take care of my simple leg pain as though it was a serious problem. This clearly shows how much love and affection she had for me.

She returned from the hospital the same day, but this time lying STILL INSIDE THE ICE BOX.

BIODIVERSITY IN YELAGIRI

I recently had a chance to go to yelagiri, a small and non commercialized hill station, few kilometres away from Jolarpettai and Vanniambadi, and among many things that I saw there, one thing that amazed me more was the sheer variety in the Indian biodiversity. As I was visiting the place I become more and more convinced that Subjects like "Bio Diversity" that I study as a elective now in my college, shouldn't be taught inside the four walls of the class room, but rather outside them.

I got a chance to eat a variety of fruits there, some of those fruits we never even heard of in places like Chennai, and some of those fruits like guava, of which we have only eaten the hybrid varieties here. The natural taste of those fruits refuses to go away from my tongue, and I only pray to God that these fruits don't become extinct, so that even our children and grand children could get a chance to taste them.

But then is praying to God alone enough to save these fruits from being extinct. Is it not our responsibility to do something towards it. We Humans are very late entrants into this earth. There are lots and lots of species that had been living in this world for a long long time. When British invade India and treat us Indians, who were living here for a long time, as slaves we don't feel good. But is it not the same attitude that we are showing to our fellow species.

Hold On. I'm not supporting those few so called intellectuals who always fight against any development project in the name of protecting bio diversity just for the sake of publicity. I am also not asking you to open up a seed bank or a gene bank and protect those species. But then I will just say thoughts that occurred in my brain on how to go about it, and ill share it with you. You could add up if you have some more interesting comments,

a) I am not going to ask you not to use two wheelers and cars because they create pollution, but rather request you to avoid them when possible. When you want to go to shop in the next street or visit a friend few streets away, you could do well to travel by foot. By doing this you will also end up getting a good exercise.

b) Plant few plants in your garden, and if your house lacks space, do it in pots in tour terrace. Gardening is one of the healthy hobbies, green leaves surrounding your house will create a good ambiance and will also supply you with some great flowers from time to time which can be given to impress your girl friend.

c) Theme parks are not the only places where we can enjoy. There are so many places in India where we can marvel at the nature. Visit them as and when the time and your pocket permits.

d) Even if you cant do all those things you could at least mail this blog to various people so that more and more Indians will become aware of this important issue.